Sabarimala pilgrims to get free primary facilities from 2013-2014 Sabarimala Yatra. In this direction, The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is working very hardly. The Travancore Devaswom Board, as an initiative towards offering primary facilities to pilgrims free of cost, will extend the same at Sabarimala during the coming pilgrimage season.

According to the officials of the board, it will offer free primary facilities, including water, food and sanitation to the pilgrims at Sannidhanam during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season beginning in November 2013.

The TDB will also initiate measures to offer such facilities at Pampa and Nilackal in a phased manner. As per some estimations, ‘Annadanamandapam’ at Malikappuram will provide free food for 50,000 pilgrims a day during the season.

For this, TDB will seek assistance of like-minded devotees and tap into the funds available with the ‘Annadanam’ scheme for providing free food. The facility to be set up near Malikappuram temple, with the assistance of sponsors will meet the requirement of food for the rest of the pilgrims.

The work on first phase of the two anndanamandapams – one sponsored by the Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam Andhra Pradesh unit and another by Sunilswami of the Sabari Group – will be completed before the beginning of the coming pilgrimage season.

As per reported sources, TDB has also sanctioned a scheme worth 60 lakh for the preparation and supply of medicated drinking water at Sannidhanam. The offering of sanitation facilities at Sannidhanam will cost the TDB Rs 1 crore.